Anacamptodes pergracilis (Hulst), commonly known as the cypress looper, drew considerable
attention in late summer of 1980 with the unexpected defoliation of nearly 28,000 ha of cypress
trees in USFS-NPS Big Cypress National Preserve (Collier and Monroe counties). Currently,
cypress looper populations are at low levels, even in the Fisheating Creek (Glades County) area,
a perennial generator of significant cypress looper defoliation over the past 20 years.

The cypress looper has been recorded from Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Texas, and
Virginia and likely occurs throughout the range of its host plants, an area of nearly 2 million ha
(Rindge 1966, Williston et al. 1980). In Florida, it has been reported from the following
counties: Charlotte, Collier, Dade, Escambia, Glades, Hendry, Lee, Martin, Monroe, Orange,
and Palm Beach (Kimball 1965).

Adult moth is white to grayish white with a body length of 6 to 10 mm and a wingspan of 22 to
36 mm. Forewings of both sexes are grayish white with blackish brown cross lines and
interspersed brown scales. Egg is small, bright green in color, and spherical to keg-shaped.
Young larva is uniformly green, similar to foliage color; mature larva is mottled gray-brown-
black, closely resembling a twig in coloration and shape. Late instar larva is approximately 25
mm long (Carothers and Ghent 1980, Rindge 1966).

In southern Florida, adult moths are present year-round. Female moths deposit small clusters of
eggs in bark crevices or under bark flaps. Eggs hatch in nine to12 days. Larvae consume parts of
or entire leaves. Approximately three weeks are required for larval development. Prior to
pupation, last instar larvae chew shallow depressions into the bark and form a cocoon of silk
webbing and bark fibers. Pupation occurs on tree stems and branches and not in the soil as an
apparent behavioral adaptation to usual presence of standing water. Adult moths emerge during
the night approximately seven to 13 days after the onset of pupation. In general, a complete life
cycle requires 1 to l 1/2 months (Carothers and Ghent 1980, Kimball 1965, Wilkening 1980).

Reddening and/or defoliated tree crowns usually become evident by July or August. A close
examination of branches with red foliage will reveal partially consumed needles - the red color, a
result of leaf desiccation. Early instar larvae blend in well with foliage due to matching colors;
late instar larvae, when immobile, closely resemble lichen-covered twigs and shoots. Adult
moths are attracted to standard blacklight field traps during nocturnal hours; heaviest catches
occur after 2200 hours. Severely defoliated trees will refoliate within weeks after looper feeding;
however, branch dieback will be present. In the Big Cypress outbreak, some trees were
defoliated three times and 1.5 m of dieback were observed in the spring of 198l. The leaves of
the last crop were smaller and yellowish.

The environmental hazards of an insecticide preclude use in a cypress strand, which is the typical
habitat of the cypress looper. A biological insecticide deserves consideration, e.g. Bacillus
thuringiensis Berliner as the active ingredient; however, no efficacy data is available. Natural
enemies may play an important regulatory role in cypress looper populations. Intensive sampling
of the Big Cypress outbreak revealed most overwintering pupae were parasitized; predominant
parasites were Ichneumon navus Say (Hymenoptera: Ichnuemonidae) and Syntomosphyrum
clisiocampae (Ashm.) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). Tree swallows, warblers, and insect
predators (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) were also observed preying on cypress looper caterpillars
during the summer months.